Conflicting views by family members over the cause of Deputy Superintendent of Police M.K. Ganapathy’s suicide has intensified the demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), even as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team constituted by the State government has begun its work.
On Saturday, M.K. Machaiah, brother of Ganapathy, wondered whether the family could get justice from the CID probe as there was a possibility of the government or senior officials influencing the outcome. He, however, went on to say that though they were not averse to the CID probe per se, it would have been better had the case been handed over to the CBI.
Ganapathy’s father Kushalappa contradicted the police claims that he had given a statement that his son was suffering from depression or that there was a rift in the family.
Speaking to a section of the media in Kodagu on Saturday, Mr. Kushalappa clarified that the police had sought a formal complaint to proceed with the ‘mahazar’ at the scene of crime but since he was not in the frame of mind to write anything, had asked the police to do so and had only signed it. But he denied having stated that his son was being treated for depression.
However, M.K. Thammaiah, brother of Ganapathy, who is the Dy.SP of Ramanagaram, has stated that the latter was under depression since the last three years and was on treatment for two years.
“He was on anti-depressants and many of my batchmates who had spoken to him had hinted at Ganapathy becoming sensitive,” he said.
‘Emotional outburst’In a brief talk with The Hindu on Friday, Mr. Thammaiah said that there are officials with bigger charges against them, but Ganapathy was sensitive and had taken it very seriously despite being absolved of all the charges.
He also said that Ganapathy’s statement on camera was an “emotional outburst” due to stress.
‘Let truth come out’This has triggered speculations that Mr. Thammaiah was under duress from the higher authorities, which he flatly denied. “Let the probe begin and the truth will come out,” he said.
But Ganapathy’s wife Paavana has stood by her husband’s version to the TV channel and stated (on the day of the incident) that he used to broach the subject of harassment from his superiors and politicians at home.
A CID team, led by Additional Director-General of Police C.H. Pratap Reddy, visited the office of the Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) in Mangaluru on Saturday to gather information about Ganapathy.
